Phase 1 Call for Proposals

Proposals for observations at the ESO telescopes are invited twice a year. A Call for Proposals is issued twice a year, at the beginning of March (for observations to be carried out between October 1 of the current year and March 31 of the following year) and at the beginning of September (for observations to be carried out between April 1 and September 30 of the year following the release of the Call). Proposals must be submitted by the respective deadline (end of March and end of September) using the supplied ESO Proposal Package and following the instructions given in the Call for Proposals.

The Call for Proposals also gives an overview of the telescopes and instruments that can be applied for, as well as of the applicable policies and procedures. The proposals are reviewed by the Observing Programmes Committee (OPC), whose members are selected on scientific excellence and are organised in specialised panels according to their area of scientific expertise. The OPC evaluates the scientific merits of the proposals. Its recommendations serve as basis for final decision on the telescope time allocation by the Director General. The outcome of this process is communicated to the proposers by end of June (for proposals submitted in March) or end of December (for proposals submitted in September). Information about successful proposals is published in the telescope time allocation schedule.